Horrible horrible bloating. It's lasted all week long. And multiple times a day I'm super hungry but can't eat because my stomach feels like there's a bowling ball in it and is so uncomfortable. I've been miserable. Is this actually normal??

So I had a little spotting the day before yesterday. No big, but I'm visiting my in laws and didn't want to have some sort of blood related catastrophe so I put my cup in anyway. For 2 days, I kept it in (aside from removal for washing etc) and had less than an ounce of flow total. My period typically starts with a huge wave of blood, and I've had a lot of random spotting since I got my IUD so between the two I figured, this is not my period. So I took my cup out and went to bed.

Naturally this means I woke up at 4 a.m. totally awash in blood. I think it must have been that first wave because while my clothing was drenched, the sheet I was sleeping on appears miraculously unmarked. But it still meant hauling my bloody visage from the outdoor (bathroom less) studio we sleep in here along with my infant (who won't sleep on his own and who I couldn't leave alone and howling in the studio) and doing my best to clean myself up with about a thousand baby wipes in the bathroom, then cleaning the bathroom up because yeah.

Now I just have to hope this doesn't turn into an overflow every few hours day. I don't have backup protection with me nor means of purchasing any and no one else here menstruates.

It is all the more awkward because I'm here sans spouse so I'm the only parent on duty. The thing I love about a cup is not having to empty it very often but today all bets seem to be off... In the seven hours or whatever since I last posted, I've overflowed it (as in full to the top) three forking times. I just want to lay down and die in peace and meanwhile my three year old is like (re: cup) what's that? Can I have that? Why don't you want to talk about this right now? Aaaaagh.

In my case, I'm pretty sure it's the copper IUD (which I otherwise love). I've always had a pretty heavy period, but not really like this or the one I had before it which have just been astounding. Wasn't like this after my first kid and I sure hope it's not age related because I'm only 28!

I've been on HBC for maybe 12 years- always had pretty regular bleeding during my placebo pills. Last cycle, I had no bleeding, did a couple pregnancy tests to make sure but they were negative. Again this month, barely any bleeding- maybe a tiny bit of spotting so far but I'm not even sure. I just had my yearly checkup and pap smear in December, before the cycle where I didn't bleed, and everything was fine. So not sure what's up. I'm wondering if i should go back in to get this checked out, but feel silly since I was just there.

_________________"If I were M. de la Viandeviande, I would now write a thirteen page post about how you have to have free will to be vegan, but modern science does not suggest any evidence for free will, therefore it is impossible to be vegan." -mumbles

I hate hormones. Hate. Them. Hate everyone, too. I feel like getting into a fight. I honestly don't remember being so forking angry in years past- perhaps it's because I was on the depo shot and didn't get my period for so long and now my body is finally getting used to what's "normal?" Apparently anger is normal. And chocolate. And naps. And lots of sex prior to day of anger.I don't know, but holy hell I hope this anger only lasts a day or so.

Every month I have about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks of pms symptoms and then 7-9 days of actual period. I feel like my stupid menstrual cycle is taking over my life. There's only one week or so out of every month when I'm not a hormonal mess and/or bleeding.

jaysus this was me yesterday. and what did i do? snap at the crazy cat lady at the gym (separate thread coming for that). however, it was great for running and lifting weights cause i was pumped! luckily for me the Day of Anger is after the Day of Massive Flow where I am down and out or it would be complicated.

Argh....not feeling so great. But the first day or two is always my carte-blanche excuse to sit around, read trashy books, watch indulgent TV and eat whatever I fancy without putting my usual pressure on myself to ALWAYS BE DOING THINGS so maybe it's really not so bad.